Universal communication device

ABSTRACT

Communication device ( 1 ) including at least one headset ( 2 ) constituted by a microphone or osteomicrophone ( 5 ) such as an accelerometer, and at least one earphone ( 6   a,    6   b ), characterized in that it includes means enabling compatibility with various types of transceivers ( 9   a,    9   b,    9   c,    9   d ).

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of French Patent Application No. 0108791 Filed Jul. 3, 2001, and French Patent Application No. 0016617 filed on Dec. 12, 2000, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

[0002] The invention relates to a universal communication device enabling the user to be connected to any type of communication equipment.

[0003] The invention is adapted more particularly for the military, but can be used, of course, by the police, gendarmerie, or even by civilians.

[0004] To communicate, the military currently uses a communication system including a headset with a microphone or an osteomicrophone and one or two earphones, said headset being adapted to be connected directly to the communication device itself, such as a transceiver. But the current devices allow using only communication devices that are compatible with the headset, and therefore users cannot be connected to different transmitters or onboard equipment that would not be compatible.

[0005] The present invention makes it possible to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional communication systems.

[0006] Thus, the communication device according to the invention, including at least one headset constituted by a microphone or osteomicrophone such as an accelerometer, is characterized in that it includes means enabling compatibility with various types of transceivers.

[0007] According to one complementary characteristic, the means enabling compatibility with various types of transceivers are constituted by an interface box including an electronic circuit powered by a battery, said box being arranged between the headset and the transceiver.

[0008] According to another characteristic, the means enabling compatibility with various types of transceivers are constituted by an automatic grounding system, enabling the grounding of the device to be common or separate.

[0009] In addition, the device includes means such that, in the case of a connection with onboard equipment, the onboard power supply replaces the battery power supply of the box.

[0010] Furthermore, the communication device includes a set of connecting cables enabling the electronic box to be connected to the various transmitters or equipments which the users may encounter, such as onboard transmitters, onboard radios, portable transmitters for the infantry, intercom for the navy or the air force, etc., whereas each of the plugs of each on the connecting cables enables compatibility with the various types of transceivers, to automatically configure the electronic box without requiring special keypads or selector knobs.

[0011] It is noted that the box includes an electronic circuit having a power supply, a jack enabling the connection of the headset, and at least one radio jack enabling the connection to two transmitters, whereas the interface box advantageously includes two radio jacks and a jack enabling the connection of a finger PTT control device, as well as two PTT switches.

[0012] The electronic circuit is constituted of various components connected to one another, namely, a power supply battery, a power supply switch, and a power supply control, arranged between a terminal of the jack for connecting the headset and an amplifier connected to an isolating transformer, on the one hand, and to the terminal of the jack, on the other hand.

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings which are only provided by way of non-limiting examples.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a general diagram of the universal communication device of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electronic circuit.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a view showing the headset with its plug connector.

[0017]FIGS. 4a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d are schematic views showing the plug connectors with their contacts for the various communication devices.

[0018] The communication system of the invention generally designated by the reference numeral (1) includes a headset (2), an electronic box (3) and a set of connecting cables (4) enabling the electronic box to be connected to the various transmitters or onboard equipment.

[0019] The headset (2) includes, in a known fashion, a microphone or osteomicrophone (5) and one or two earphones (6 a, 6 b). Said headset (1) can be of any type, for example, held by a headband, incorporated into a protective headgear, or in an active or passive anti-noise, whereas it includes a headset connection cable (80) whose end has a plug connector (8) enabling its coupling to the electronic box (3). Of course, the connecting cable (80) can be advantageously equipped with a safety plug, known in itself, commonly called cut-off switch, which enables automatic disconnection in the case of excessive traction on the cable (80), without deterioration of the equipment and possibility of immediately reconnecting the device.

[0020] The electronic box (3) is an interface between the headset (2) and the communication devices (9 a, 9 b, 9 c., etc.) to which the user can be connected. It is known that the communication devices are very different from one another, and the electronic box (3) of the invention enables the user to connect to these various devices, whereas the electronic circuit (10) of the box (3) recognizes the communication devices and enables the user to use them without performing any manipulation or adjustment.

[0021] Therefore, the electronic box (3) makes it possible, for example, to connect two transmitters, and to control them separately or simultaneously with two PTT (push to talk) buttons. One of the PTT buttons has an intercom position for an aircraft, helicopter, land vehicle or boat onboard interphone.

[0022] Thus, the electronic box (3) includes an electronic circuit (10) powered by a battery (11), a jack (30) enabling the connection of the headset (2), two radio jacks (31, 32) enabling the connection to two transmitters, a jack (33) enabling the connection of a finger PTT control device, two PTT switches (34, 35) whose operation is explained hereinafter.

[0023] According to a characteristic of the invention, the box (3) does not have an ON/OFF button for the electronic circuit (10), in order to prevent an ill-timed wear of the battery powering said electronic circuit. Thus, said box includes means making it possible to avoid an accidental discharge of the battery if incorrectly stored when the headset (2) is disconnected, and only pressing one of the PTT buttons (34) or the intercommunication position allows the use of the incorporated battery.

[0024] Furthermore, means are also provided such that, in the case of a connection to an onboard equipment, the onboard power supply replaces the battery power supply of the box.

[0025] According to another characteristic of the invention, the electronic circuit of the box includes means enabling compatibility with the various communication devices, whether the equipment is for the infantry, the air force, or the navy. These means are constituted by automatic systems for common or distinct grounding. Thus, during the connection of the various plug connectors (8, 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, 40 d) corresponding to the headset (8) and/or of the transceivers and/or of the onboard equipment systems (9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d), the electronic circuit (10) is provided to recognize the type of connection and to thus adapt the corresponding grounding.

[0026] As seen previously, the device (1) further includes a set (4) of adapted connecting cables (4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d) whose connections make it possible to connect the various transmitters or onboard equipment (9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d) to the jacks (31, 32) of the box (3), and to automatically configure the electronic box, without requiring a keypad or selector knobs.

[0027] Due to its electronic box (3), the universal communication device is compatible with the various transceiver systems, the latter being those used by the infantry, navy, aircraft pilots, etc.

[0028] Thus, the following operations are possible:

[0029] transceivers or intercom with microphone/earphones common grounding. According to this operating mode, the plug connector (4 a) is such that its terminals (A) and (E) are connected by a jumper which, during the coupling to one of the radio jacks (31, 32), causes the corresponding terminals (a) and (e) to be short circuited, and the grounding switch (17) short circuits the groundings of the microphone (5) and of the earphones (6 a, 6 b) which are then common. In the case of a coupling of the plug connector (40 a) to one of the radio jacks (31, 32), the power supply of the circuit is ensured by the battery (11).

[0030] transceivers or intercom with microphone/earphones distinct groundings, the PTT buttons having the same grounding as the microphone. According to this operating mode, the plug connector (40 c) is such that the terminals (A) and (E) are not connected by a jumper, and are therefore free. During the coupling to one of the radio jacks (31, 32), the grounding switch (17) separates the grounding of the microphone (5) from the grounding of the earphones (6 a, 6 b), the base grounding then being the grounding of the earphones (6 a, 6 b).

[0031] transceivers or intercom with microphone/earphones distinct groundings, the PTT buttons having the same grounding as the earphones and the transmission or intercom control being ensured by a single conductor on the onboard equipment. According to this operating mode, the plug connector (40 b) is such that the terminals (A) and (F) are short circuited by a jumper. During the coupling to the radio jack (32), the grounding switch (17) affixes the grounding of the earphone (6 a, 6 b) to the base grounding and renders the grounding of the microphone (5) independent.

[0032] intercom powered by the onboard power supply. According to this operating mode, the plug (4 d) is such that its terminals (A) and (E) are short circuited by a jumper, whereas the onboard power supply is connected to the central terminal (F). During the connection of the plug (4 d), the grounding switch (17) enables the groundings of the microphone (5) and of the earphones (6 a, 6 b) to be common, the power supply by the battery (11) is stopped in favor of the onboard power supply.

[0033] The power supply of the electronic circuit by the battery is used only if the headset (2) is connected by its plug connector (8) to the corresponding jack (30) of the electronic box (3). So that the battery (11) is used only when the headset (2) is connected, the plug connector (8) includes a jumper between the terminals (A) and (E), which allows the grounding of the battery (11).

[0034] But the power supply can be provided by the onboard electricity if the plug of the onboard equipment is connected to the jack (32) which, by its central terminal (F), receives 28 volts.

[0035] It is noted that, due to the electronic circuit, pressing one of the PTT (34, 35) or intercommunication (36) buttons makes it possible to power the circuit, the release of the button then cutting the power supply.

[0036] The electronic circuit (10) is constituted of various components connected to one another, namely, a power supply battery (11), a power supply switch (12), and a power supply control (13), arranged between a terminal of the jack (30) for the connection of the headset (2) and an amplifier (14) connected to an isolating transformer (15), on the one hand, and to a terminal of the jack (30), on the other hand.

[0037] The electronic circuit (10) further includes a grounding comparator (16) connected to a grounding switch (17).

[0038] Of course, the aforementioned components are directly or indirectly connected to the various sockets, namely, the jack (30) for connecting the headset (2) and the two radio jacks (31, 32), as well as to the PTT switches (34, 35).

[0039] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown by way of examples, but also includes all of the technical equivalents as well as their combinations. 

1. Communication device (1) including at least one headset (2) constituted by a microphone or osteomicrophone (5) such as an accelerometer, and at least one earphone (6 a, 6 b), characterized in that it includes means enabling compatibility with various types of transceivers (9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d).
 2. Communication device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means enabling compatibility with various types of transceivers are constituted by a box (3) including an electronic circuit (10) powered by a battery (11), said box being arranged between the headset (2) and the transceiver (9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d).
 3. Communication device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the means enabling compatibility with various types of transceivers are constituted by an automatic grounding system.
 4. Communication device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it includes means such that, in the case of a connection to an onboard equipment, the onboard power supply replaces the battery power supply of the box.
 5. Communication device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a set of connecting cables (4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d) enabling the electronic box (3) to be connected to the various transmitters or equipments (9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d).
 6. Universal communication device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that each of the plugs (40) of each of the connecting cables (4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d) enables compatibility with various types of transceivers (9 a, 9 b, 9 d, 9 d), to automatically configure the electronic box without requiring a special keypad or selector knobs.
 7. Communication device (1) according to any of claims 2-6, characterized in that the box (3) includes an electronic circuit (10) having a power supply, a jack (30) enabling the connection of the headset (2), and at least one radio jack (31, 32) enabling the connection to two transmitters.
 8. Communication device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the box (3) includes two radio jacks (31, 32), and a jack (33) enabling the connection of a finger PTT control device, as well as two PTT switches (34, 35).
 9. Communication device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic circuit (10) is constituted of various components connected to one another, namely, a power supply battery (11), a power supply switch (12), and a power supply control (13), arranged between a terminal of the jack (30) for connecting the headset (2) and an amplifier (14) connected to an isolating transformer (15), on the one hand, and to a terminal of the jack (30), on the other hand. 